Even without Michael Owen, Liverpool still had too much attacking class for Bolton as Gerard Houllier's strikers finally discovered their goalscoring boots to keep in touch with Arsenal.

Liverpool's French manager had left Owen, who has looked below par this season, on the bench, but was rewarded as the attacking partnership of Milan Baros and Emile Heskey conjured up three goals.

Milan has good skill and an eye for goal

Gerarg Houllier

Owen has managed just one goal this season - a penalty - but by the end of play Baros had marked his Premiership debut with a brace.

In recent weeks Liverpool have shown a propensity to snatch draws from the jaws of victory and although Ricardo Gardner and Ivan Campo reawakened Botlon's hopes, Houllier's side triumphed thanks to Heskey's late finish.

Key incidents

45 mins: Milan Baros gives Liverpool the lead

54 mins: Ricardo Gardner levels for Bolton

72 mins: Baros is on hand to restore Liverpool's lead

87 mins: Ivan Campo pops up to keep Bolton's hopes alive

88 mins: Emile Heskey finishes off good work by Steven Gerrard and John Arne Riise

Djorkaeff was also eager to get into attacking positions himself and from one Bolton move, inevitably started by the Frenchman, the former Kaiserslautern striker scuffed his volley on the edge of the box.

As the interval approached each side spurned some golden opportunities to break the deadlock.

First Dean Holdsworth completely missed his shot with the goal gaping after good work from Gardner and then Baros hit the post after being sent clear by Dietmar Hamann.

Bruno Cheyrou, who had become increasingly influential as the game progressed, cleverly stepped over Hamann's pass, allowing Baros to pick up the ball on the edge of the box.

Ivan Campo scored on his debut for Bolton

He manoeuvred the ball to his right foot and past Simon Charlton before blasting his shot into the net.

Bolton equalised after 54 minutes when Gardner, released by Holdsworth's brave header, cut a swathe through the Liverpool, before slipping the ball past Dudek.

But Liverpool regrouped and Baros' stuck out his boot to poke the ball home from Gerrard's cross.

Bolton kept going and Ivan Campo, also making his Premiership debut, scrambled home Ian Nolan's cross, before Heskey grabbed the three points for Liverpool.